Before the founding of the People's Republic of China, he was engaged in the students' underground work of the Communist Party in Shanghai, serving for a period of time as deputy secretary and acting secretary of the Shanghai Students' Committee of the Communist Party. In June 1949, he was designated representative of China National Federation of Democratic Youth to the World Federation of Democratic Youth in Prague. After the founding of the People's Republic of China, he served as Deputy Director General and Director General (1949–1958) of the International Liaison Department of the Central Committee of the Youth League (renamed as the Communist Youth League later), Director General (1958–1978) and Vice Minister (1978–1982) of the International Liaison Department of CCCPC, First Vice-Foreign Minister (1982.4–1982.11).[1]

Wu was the Foreign Minister of China from 1982 to 1988. He was the member of the 13th CPC Politburo from 1987 to 1992.